No matter what you need from an SUV, the 2016 Ford Explorer has a perfect solution for you, whether you're just running down to the store to put some groceries in its spacious cargo area, hauling the kids to school in its comfortable interior, pulling a trailer with its powerful EcoBoost engines, or going off-road. On top of all that, owning a 2016 Ford Explorer couldn't be more affordable, at least according to Kelley Blue Book, which awarded the 2016 Explorer a 5-Year Cost to Own Award in its class!
The 2016 Toyota 4Runner, by comparison, boasts plenty of power and off-road capability, but it comes at the expense of the comfort, ride quality, and on-the-road performance that the Explorer offers—not to mention a higher sticker price. Advantage: Ford Explorer
Vehicle Power and Handling
The 2016 Toyota 4Runner is a powerful off-road vehicle that can haul a heavier trailer than the standard Ford Explorer, but that off-road performance comes at a premium not just in comfort, ride quality, and road handling, but also in fuel economy. What's more, the 2016 Ford Explorer actually beats the 4Runner when it comes to net horsepower, delivering 290 horsepower with the available 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine!
The 2016 Ford Explorer's unparalleled performance, handling, and ride comfort doesn't come at the expense of your pocket book, either. With an EPA-estimated 28 miles-per-gallon highway with the available 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine, the Explorer is more fuel efficient than the 4Runner. Lower fuel and maintenance costs are part of why the 2016 Ford Explorer won the Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for its class! Advantage: Ford Explorer
Vehicle Design and Features
When it comes to comfort and style, there's no beating the 2016 Ford Explorer. From a quiet, comfortable ride with plenty of cabin space to luxury amenities like Nirvana Leather on the new Platinum series trim option, everything about the 2016 Ford Explorer says confidence and class. And those are just some of the features that you can see at a glance. The 2016 Ford Explorer also incorporates optional features like hands-free parking, a camera that can see around corners, and available voice-activated Ford SYNC technology. You can even open and close the liftgate with a kick of your foot when your hands are full and your key fob is in your pocket!
The 2016 Toyota 4Runner may perform well off the road, but when it comes to design features, it just isn't on the same level as the 2016 Ford Explorer. The 4Runner's cabin is comfortable, but the third-row seats aren't large enough for most adults, while the 2016 Ford Explorer boasts the largest amount of third-row legroom in its class! Advantage: Ford Explorer.
Our Conclusion: The Ford Explorer is the Better SUV
At the end of the day, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better full-size SUV either on the road of off it than the 2016 Ford Explorer. But you don't have to take our word for it! The Explorer has remained the top-selling SUV in America for almost four decades, boasts perfect 5-star crash test safety ratings, and was named Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost to Own Award winner for its class in 2016.
No matter what you're looking for in an SUV, you can find it in the 2016 Ford Explorer. With a range of available features like 7-passenger seating, intelligent 4 wheel drive with Terrain Management System (TMS), a PowerFold 3rd-row seat (and the best 3rd-row legroom in its class!), adaptive cruise control, a truly hands-free liftgate, forward collision warning with brake support, trailer sway control, lane-keeping system, and individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), the 2016 Ford Explorer has you covered. Want best-in-class horsepower and torque, plus class-exclusive available features like active grille shutters, enhanced active park assist, 180-degree front and rear cameras, inflatable rear safety belts, multi-contour seats, SecuriCode invisible keypad, and voice-activated SYNC technology? Whatever you're looking for, the 2016 Ford Explorer is the SUV for you, and the Toyota 4Runner is left in the dust!
Ready to drive home in a new Ford Explorer of your very own, or just want to see what we've got on the lot at your friendly Wichita, KS auto dealers? Give us a call or stop on by Rusty Eck Ford in Wichita, and test drive a 2016 Ford Explorer or any of our other new Ford cars and trucks today!
